Councillor Maja Tait said it on Monday night - it’s election time. It starts in January and ends just before the election in November. What starts? If anyone has gone to council since the beginning of the year, it is obvious that the electioneering has begun. The waffling on decisions made earlier, the pleasantness among council members, the lack of out bursts and the cautious decisions or no decisions. No one wants to offend the electorate. That is a good thing, but it shouldn’t just be in the months before an election, this is something that should go on for the entire term of office - and it hasn’t in many cases. In fact, council meetings are rather staid these days, it was a lot more exciting when tempers blew and definite positions were taken on issues.
Four-year terms are coming and we need to be ready for that. One has to seriously consider who they think will be the most conscientious and desirable candidate for council or mayor. Do we go with those we know or take a chance on someone new? That, of course, will be up to the voters. With four-year terms, there is no easy legal way to depose someone who isn’t “working” out. There is no probation period, no performance reviews. There is their record for sure, if they have sat on council already. What about those newcomers to the political arena? As in every community there are those who speak out and take stands for others, sit in on council meetings and committees to see what is going on. Those folks are likely the ones who will throw their hat in the ring.
Now the waiting game begins. Few council members have declared whether they are running again or not. Rumours abound and tight lips are everywhere. They are waiting to see who is running to determine what they will run for - council or mayor. It will be an interesting seven months of gestation.